It's yes to friendship, no to courtship for Vhong

Author: Maridol Rañoa-Bismark

Mention papalicious and images of hunks, matinee idols and all things wonderful about men pop up like makahiya on a wayside street. Add the word supah to make it supah papalicious and the images grow to lifelike proportions. You envision a demigod with the looks and build of an Adonis.

That's why Vhong Navarro can't help but flash a smile as wide as the sea when people utter the words supah papalicious next to his name. The Cloud Nine feeling, however, is mixed. Mr. Suave and Lastikman knows it gives him hard-to-life-with image. And it exerts extra pressure on him.

Sure, he attracts girls the way bees are drawn to honey (hello, Desiree del Valle, Diana Zubiri et. al!). But the guy obviously doesn't want to announce this to the world. He doesn't want the lady's man image to be his sole claim to fame. After all, there's more to Vhong than this.

Sure, his naughty winks can melt a female heart as fast as ice cream turns to liquid under the sun. But Vhong thinks there's more to it than naughty winks and winsome smiles.

His secret?

"I don't believe in courtship. You only show your good side here," he begins. "I believe in honest, sincere friendship instead. The girls get to know your good and bad side. "

Makes sense. It also makes sense that like the typical comedian, Vhong's funny ways make girls fall for him, hook, line and sinker.

Take it from Valerie Concepcion, whom Vhong handpicked as his leading lady in Star Cinema's upcoming movie, Supah Papalicious.

"I'm the giggly type," she coos. "So guys with a sense of humor appeal to me. "

Not that this single mom is looking for a new man in her life. Vhong himself is in the middle of his three-year-old annulment case. It's just that Valerie finds her leading man great to be with. And that explains the chemistry between them in the movie, where Vhong plays Adonis, an orphan who falls in love with single mom Athena (Valerie).

Vhong admits shooting the film was not a walk in the park. Unlike Gagamboy, Mr. Suave, Lastikman and others, he doesn't play a cartoon character here. He plays a flesh-and-blood character as real as the orphans he hangs around with in the movie.

And Vhong doesn't stick to just one role. He slips into the shoes of three other characters -- Tita Barbara, Lola Paulina and cousin Apol Dayap (inspired by apl. de. ap, who else?). All these in his bid to prove to Athena's little son Atong (Makisig Morales) that he (Adonis) has the big family required to win his ladylove's heart.

The character changes and the shifts in mannerisms, makeup, costume and others they require make playing Adonis as challenging as running The Amazing Race is for Vhong.

"There's nothing like it. It's my hardest role so far," he admits.

But he's not lacking in sources of inspiration. Vhong looks at Dolphy, Jim Carrey and Adam Sandler when the wellspring of inspiration starts drying up (it happens to the best of them).

"Dolphy's punchlines are always funny. Carrey is not only a good comedian. He's also a good actor. And Sandler is effortless in making people laugh," Vhong explains.

Vhong doesn't stop at admiring his idols. He goes out of his way to do his homework. And his best teacher, in this department, is life itself.

"A good comedian must update himself on what's happening around him to remain effective. This is the best way to connect with the audience," Vhong declares.

Now you know why Vhong could muster a whopping box-office take of more than P100-M per movie.

But before you think Vhong's life is one big laughfest, get a load of this: "I'm okay as long as they steer clear of my family," Vhong says. But the minute people hit his children, watch out. Vhong himself admits he easily breaks down and cry.

This single dad may be remiss in spending time with sons Frederick Vhong, 11 and Isaiah, nine. Vhong's work is that demanding. But he makes it up to them as much as he can. He may not get along that well with their respective moms. But Vhong makes it a point to bond with his boys every week.

That's how he discovered that Frederick got his dad's sense of humor while Isaiah is more of a future heartthrob. This means the boys got a fair share of dad's papalicious traits: One is a future lady's man; the other is a natural comedian.

Vhong plans to give them a common mom someday once his annulment case is resolved. And this time, Vhong will do everything to make the marriage last.

Source: The Philippine Star